Point of View :
 

'Please speak for us too'

by A. de Silva

The Presidential Election campaign is now on in full swing, and it is a regular feature to see the two major contestants trying to outdo each other in the making promises. It is also very significant that all the relief promised to the people is centred on the dugee duppath (the poor people) of the country. It is good, and most of these promises should certainly be directed at them, if there is any hope of winning the election.

However, there is an important aspect that these candidates have neglected to pay attention to. That is a section of the Sri Lankan society which can be classified as 'poor' or as 'under privileged' and there is also a considerable section of the society that can be set apart as 'rich' or as 'privileged'. There is no question of this fact. The interests and hopes of these two sections differ from each other.

What the latter group - the 'rich' and 'the privileged' - expect from life includes such items as a comfortable house with all latest amenities, the latest possible avenues of entertainment, means of transport such as luxury cars, availability of international schools for the children to be educated, the opportunity to send the children abroad for higher education,the availability of food and drink, the latest in fashion wear, night clubs and dancing, frequent partying and many other such allied facilities. This is our normal life and that is what we are entitled to.

I am not ashamed to confess that I belong to the 'privileged' group. There are thousands and thousands of others like me. I have nothing to be ashamed of. This is what I have inherited and I have earned whatever it may be. I am part of this society not only me, my fellow brothers too are a part of this society, that should be given due consideration.

Just as the candidates shout, they have a moral right to speak how they are going to help us to achieve our hopes and aspirations. Yet, not one of them has uttered one word about us.

Is it correct to neglect us totally from consideration? Are we taken as outcasts? When every section of the society - grouped by race, religion, profession, vocation and area of residence is looked after and catered to in the election manifestos, I can see no reason why we are completely left out.

I sincerely wish that at least one among the candidates will be decent enough to have sufficient honesty and courage to speak out boldly that he will be considerate towards our hopes and aspirations.

If no such clear pronouncement is made on this request, there is the certainty that a few hundred thousand votes will be lost, because we are not sure about our future. Or, - to be a little more generous towards the besieged candidates, may we take it for granted that it will be us who really would be looked after more after November 17, 2005?